PEOPLE in Ludlow and south Shropshire that are least able to stand up for themselves are being hit hardest by health cuts.

This is the claim being made by Gill George from Ludlow who heads the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Defence our NHS Group.

She made the comments after a meeting of the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

“We are heading for a DIY NHS in Shropshire,” said Gill, who chairs the NHS Group.

She said that cuts had been agreed in mental health services and in support given to people with complex health problems such as learning difficulties.

“The people that are carrying the brunt of the cuts are those least able to shout and stand up for themselves,” said Gill George.

“They are people with long-term and complex health problems that face difficult lives and are very dependent upon carers and others who also face huge pressures.”

She said that many of the cuts will be introduced almost immediately as the NHS in Shropshire seeks to deal with a financial deficit that she says amounts to £140 million.

“The services lined up for the latest cuts may not be life-saving emergency services but they have a huge long term impact upon people who already have a very tough time,” added Gill George.

“Cuts to mental health services make a nonsense of any claim to be putting mental health services on a par with those that have physical health problems.

“People are not just being asked to play part in caring for relatives and friends but they are being required to undertake tasks that should be being done by health professionals.”

Gill George has called upon health chiefs to be honest.

“There is simply not enough money to deliver the services that people need and it is time to be honest about this and demand the funds that are needed,” she said.

“A bad situation has been made worse by the Brexit vote that will make the country poorer and leave less money for the NHS but it has also potentially provided cover that can be used by those that want to cut back the NHS.”

She accused the government of telling lies about the amount of money being spent on the NHS through practices such as ‘double counting'.